such as: administration, police precincts, fire stations, libraries, community centers, performance halls, stadiums, and maintenance shops. To implement a green building policy for its own structures, a local government may need to change processes and give capital project managers and their teams additional resources and tools.

Many local governments have found that a collaborative approach with participation from a broad group of stakeholders works best. Key stakeholders should include elected officials, facilities directors, project managers, operations and maintenance staff, occupants, utility representatives, design consultants, contractors, and others that have influence over projects.

These are some of the action steps that work especially well to help make city or county buildings greener:

• Educate.  Education is a relatively easy and effective action that can be taken to increase knowledge and skills. Coordinate a Private LEED Workshop, or invite local green building experts to present at staff or work group meetings. 
• Establish a working group charged with supporting implementation. Members may include senior management; staff involved with planning, design, construction, and operations and maintenance; utility conservation program representatives; and building occupants or users.
• Identify a pilot project to test green building principles and demonstrate specific strategies. A pilot project also gives you a good way to  communicate the costs and benefits of green building to occupants and citizens. 
• Host an eco-charrette.  For example, Seattle hosted an “eco-charrette” to support its Fire Levy Program , which was passed to update, renovate or build 32 fire stations. The charrette report and technical briefs that were developed as a result are a resource for project teams. 
• Identify key institutional and market barriers.  For example, capital project managers may be unfamiliar with green building, or contract language for services may need to be changed to reflect expectations for delivery of green buildings. 
• Develop tools and resources that will help break through barriers. Tools and resources may include design guidelines that reflect local regulations or sample language for requests for proposals, contracts and specifications. 
• Evaluate the results and communicate the costs and benefits to stakeholders and the community.

These are some of the specific resources you can use to help create city and county buildings that are more green:

•  “Writing the Green RFP,” provided by the American Institute of Architects Provides a review of issues involved, as well as sample language and tips.
• The Green Building Toolkit, developed by the California Integrated Waste Management Board. Provides sample documents, such as capital outlay budget change proposals, requests for qualifications, construction contracts and specifications.
• City of New York High Performance Building Guidelines. Gives guidance on how to meet green building criteria within the framework of the city’s regulations, and processes.
• State and Local Government Toolkit, prepared by the US Green Building Council. Serves as a guide for state and local government to increase their green building stock.
• Whole Building Design Guide, developed by federal agencies. Provides a wide range of building-related guidance, criteria and technology from a “whole buildings” perspective.